The Gold Coast SUNS Talent Academy is an innovative program that provides young athletes with a unique opportunity to participate in a first class sport and education experience facilitated by AFL Queensland and the Gold Coast SUNS.

The Gold Coast SUNS Talent Academy is a multi-level coaching program for aspiring players aged between 12 and 18 years. It forms a key stage in the pathway from junior sport through to a possible career as an AFL player at the highest level – without leaving Queensland.

The Academy caters for young athletes in the Northern NSW and Gold Coast region as well as Far North Queensland (Rockhampton to Cape York).

The Academy features four levels, beginning with the youngest players emerging from the Future Stars program at Year 7, right up to the U18 level where the best will represent Queensland in the national championships.

Once a part of the Academy, each participant will experience best practice learning, facilities and facilitators in a sports environment.

Levels and Selection

Future Stars: Squad members are selected from the AFL Future Stars program - boys who play AFL for their primary school but haven’t been registered with a junior club; as well as players who play at an AFL Junior club but haven’t made Queensland State U12 school boys team.

Level One: Squad members are selected from the Queensland State U12 School Boy’s team, the Queensland State U14 Championships and the AFL Future Stars Program from the previous calendar year.

Level Two: Squad members are selected from the Queensland State U14 Championships, the Queensland State U15 School Boy squad as well as the Gold Coast Combine.

Level Three: Squad members are selected from the Queensland State U16 Championships in the previous calendar year as well as the Gold Coast Combine.

* It should be noted that players have the opportunity to join the Gold Coast SUNS Talent Academy program at any of the four levels, and selection does not guarantee involvement for the following Level.

To find out more about the Gold Coast SUNS Talent Academy please contact Jason Torney on 0412 836 241 or email Jason.Torney@goldcoastfc.com.au 

Academy Match Program for Level 3 (U18)

1. GC SUNS Academy V Salt Water Warriors (Open Indigenous all star team)

Saturday 23 February at 1.00pm, Coolangatta

• PBC V Coolangatta Masters at 10.00am

• PBC V Coolangatta Seniors at 11.00am

2. North Queensland (Cairns/Townsville) V North Queensland Central (Rockhampton/Mackay) 

Sunday 24 February at 10.00am, Airlie Beach

• The North Queensland qualifying match for the Townsville game

3. GC SUNS Academy V North Queensland GC SUNS Academy

Saturday 2 March at 6.45pm, Townsville

4. GC SUNS Academy V Brisbane Lions Academy

Rd 1 Saturday 16 March at 1.00pm, Yeronga

5. Gold Coast SUNS Academy V Brisbane Lions Academy

Rd 2 Sunday 24 March at 1.00pm, Labrador

NB. The Talent Academy then select the best North Queensland and Gold Coast players to represent the SUNS V Lions and a squad of 30 will be picked to represent their state as the QLD U18 Scorpions in the U18 Nationals throughout June and July.